to be annoyed that the UK is turning into a nanny state with alcohol?

[LuckySalem]

I can't find a link but apparently Scotland started a new law (or something) yesterday that sets a limit on how cheap alcohol can be.

Now I rarely drink at all so I spose it doesn't affect me too much but I can't help but be annoyed that because some people don't know their limits the government is now imposing some prices on us which is only going to stop the low earners being able to afford it - If that makes any sense at all.

I'm just annoyed that I feel my freedoms are being affected. I know its only in Scotland at the mo but you know it'll be all over UK very soon.

2I get very weary of people condemning the "nanny state" just because it's legislating on something which they don't like. The government has every right to intervene to (theoretically) improve the lives of its citizens in a wide variety of circumstances - people only ever call it a "nanny state" when they don't like it. Do we condemn the "nanny state" which makes the possession of heroin illegal because it infringes people's rights? Do we condemn that "nanny state" which doesn't allow cigarettes to be sold to a 6 year old? "

but surely that's half the point. the government is supposed to do what the people find acceptable, not decide themselves and dictate.
so of course no ones going to complain about not giving kids cigarettes as most people agree that's sensible and it's what we want.
people give out when the government take it upon themselves to tell them what's good for them and then act upon it with no input from others.

btw if you think england is bad for drink laws you should come over to ireland. i'm pretty sure we'll soon be in prohibition era again.

There has been undoubtedly been a change in society over the last 20 years with young people drinking more, and more often, but I think that one of problems is that tacking an issue like alcohol requires many of us (and many politicians) to confront our own issues with alcohol.

It is easy to point the finger at youth getting hammered in the streets but how many MNers get home from work and open a bottle of wine, or wouldn't contemplate an evening out with friends that didn't include alcohol.

As expatinScotland posted "cases of health diseases from alcohol is actually rising fastest among people around my age (38) and the rates for women is skyrocketing"

If we continue to 'blame it on the youth' then our approaches to addressing it will be one-dimensional and will have little effect.

I agree with the opening poster that the proposals smack of the nanny state. They try to control but where is the support for people who want to moderate their drinking? Where is the support for parents and children to discuss alcohol (like the recent initiatives in sexual health)?

Couple of points MQ.

Firstly, the government have certainly acted upon advice from others on this including doctors, health professionals, police forces and scientific reviews. Indeed they offered supermarkets the chance to self-regulate which they have paid lip service to then blatantly ignored.

Secondly, the government is elected for a period of years to govern on our behalf and to take decisions on our behalf. It is very clearly not elected to make the most popular decisions and I certainly would prefer a government which took decisions based on what it believed was right rather than what would be most popular.